Orkney & Shetland ferries

[AndyC]

Quick Q about ferries to/from Orkney & Shetland.

We're thinking of going Scrabster to Stromness - Kirkwall to Lerwick - Lerwick to Kirkwall - St Margaret's Hope to Gills Bay

Likely to be going April/May time with no fixed dates, is it necessary to book these ferries, and the Orkney Ferries inter-island routes, in advance or can we just rock up and stand a chance of getting on them?

 

[ProDave]

Stopping at Orkney on the way to Shetland is more complicated. The Kirkwall - Lerwick ferry runs overnight and alternate days only goes one way.

Far simpler to do one leg from Aberdeen to Lerwick (again overnight) and only stop at Orkney on one leg of the journey.

If you want to take a vehicle on the inter island ferries most need booking at least the day before. Some of the shorter ones like Lerwick - Bressay you can turn up and queue. The pricing is "interesting" (and cheap) e,g book a crossing to Unst (2 ferries) and it is the same price as if you had just booked to go to Yell.

 

[AndyC]

Stopping at Orkney on the way to Shetland is more complicated. The Kirkwall - Lerwick ferry runs overnight and alternate days only goes one way.

Far simpler to do one leg from Aberdeen to Lerwick (again overnight) and only stop at Orkney on one leg of the journey.

If you want to take a vehicle on the inter island ferries most need booking at least the day before. Some of the shorter ones like Lerwick - Bressay you can turn up and queue. The pricing is "interesting" (and cheap) e,g book a crossing to Unst (2 ferries) and it is the same price as if you had just booked to go to Yell.

Thanks, hadn't really looked at ferry timings yet. Aberdeen > Lerwick does look like a good option.

 

[ProDave]

Thanks, hadn't really looked at ferry timings yet. Aberdeen > Lerwick does look like a good option.

Yes we liked that. Ferry leaves Aberdeen about 5PM and arrives at Lerwick 7AM next day. We booked a sleeping pod each for the overnight. If you are more flush than us you can book a cabin, or really cheap just use the reclining seats. There are 2 ferries on the route one each way each night, but only one stops off at Kirkwall on the way past adding an hour to the through journey.

We did Orkney and Shetland separately different years, and for that used both Orkney ferries just to see the difference.

 

[barryd]

Twenty years ago I did a boys trip to Muckle Flugga on Shetland in a VW Camper. We did Aberdeen to Lerwick and then coming back we did Sheltand to Orkney then to Scrabster (I think). All I remember was the Aberdeen to Shetland overnight was a proper hoot. Played in an REM tribute band in the bar until the early hours. Nobody slept. I think around 4am I just found a sofa and crashed out. They had a job waking me I think when it docked. The hopscotch back via Orkney was a good idea as you got another island then the chance to meander down through Scotland right from the top.

 

[Robmac]

Yes we liked that. Ferry leaves Aberdeen about 5PM and arrives at Lerwick 7AM next day. We booked a sleeping pod each for the overnight. If you are more flush than us you can book a cabin, or really cheap just use the reclining seats. There are 2 ferries on the route one each way each night, but only one stops off at Kirkwall on the way past adding an hour to the through journey.

We did Orkney and Shetland separately different years, and for that used both Orkney ferries just to see the difference.

I think I'd go for the cabin option as a treat. They look to be very good for the price and the food also looks good.